Day 170. Colorful eyeliner with Neve Cosmetics Intensissimi [look]

Easy, spring-summer catwalk inspired look today with a colorful eyeliner!

Products
- Urban Decay Naked Basics: Naked 2, Faint and Walk of Shame
- Neve Cosmetics Intensissimi Palette: Diva
- Maybelline Feather Look Volum'Express Mascara

Day 169. Mac Kinda Sexy lipstick [review & swatches]

Today post is all for a classic lipstick that was a recent addition to my lipstick stash: Mac Kinda Sexy.

Mac Kinda Sexy lipstick

Day 168. Grey eyes with Dr. Hauschka Natural Glamour palette [look]

For today I wanted something light but intense, so I did a look based on grey tones.

Products:
- Dr. Hauschka Natural Glamour palette (all shades)
- Make Up For Ever Aqua Black Gel Liner
- Maybelline Feather Look Volum'Express Mascara

Day 167. Intense eyes with Sleek MakeUp Showstoppers palette [look]

I went out to dinner tonight so I did a very intense, dark eye look using the Sleek MakeUp palette.

Products
- Sleek MakeUp Showstoppers palette in Bad Girl, Noir, Graphite, Sparkle and Paraguaya.
- Maybelline Feather Look Volum'Express Mascara

Day 166. Perfectly natural eyes with Mac Brulè and Brown Down [look]

One of my favorite variations on a naked look, done with matte eyeshadows!

Products
- Mac Brulè and Brown Down eyeshadows
- Kiko SUper Colour Mascara on #04

Peach & Burgundy eye make up with Sleek MakeUp Monaco Palette [look]

Another look post today featuring another palette from Sleek MakeUp. Today I used a LE palette from the Mediterranean collection, called Monaco.

Products:

- Sleek MakeUp Monaco palette (Washed Ashore and Moors Treasure)

- Maybelline Feather Look Volum'Express Mascara

Day 164. Gold eyeliner + Sleek Make Up Good Girl [look]

I have been absent for a couple of days, but I am back and I promise I'll have 365 posts on the blog at the end of the year!

So this is a look I did a couple of days ago using my Sleek MakeUp Good Girl palette and a golden eyeliner from Barry M.

Day 163. Brush cleaning [tip]

I am a brush junkie. I have tons and tons of brushes, ranging from the cheapest to the expensive. Since I have so many brushes, I tend to use new brushes every morning, especially for my eye make up.
I run out of clean brushes to use about every two weeks, and today was the day I decided to clean all my brushes to have clean ones to use tomorrow.

Day 165. Urban Decay Omen eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Another UD eyeshadow today: Omen!

Urban Decay Omen eyeshadow

Day 161. Spring/summer skin care routine

Even though the weather hasn't been spring or summer like, I am slowly defining my spring/summer skin care routine.


Morning
- cleansing with cold water and Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser
- spraying on Clinique Claryfing Lotion 3 (soon to be substituted with Dermalogica Multi-Active toner)
- moisturizing and protecting with Dermalogica Oil Free Matte spf30 on the face and Strivectin Eye Concentrate around the eyes

(then I apply a DIY tinted moisturizer)

Evening
- removing makeup with Sephora Eau Micellaire
- cleansing with cold water and Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser
- exfoliating with Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
- spraying on Clinique Claryfing Lotion 3 (soon to be substituted with Dermalogica Multi-Active toner)
- moisturizing with Dermalogica Active Moist
- Strivectin Eye Concentrate around the eyes

Twice a week I apply overnight the Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque.
If I have breakouts, I apply on the breakout area the Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel instead the usual moisturizer.

This routine is really working for me, my skin feels great and also looks great, except for the occasional breakout or spots. I can really afford to use a light coverage tinted moisturizer like the one I made since my skin looks so great!

What's your skincare routine for spring and summer?

Day 160. Urban Decay M.I.A. eyeshadows [review & swatches]

Second color I used in my last look post: Urban Decay M.I.A.

Urban Decay M.I.A. eyeshadow

Day 159. Urban Decay Deep End eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Since yesterday I used this color for the look I did on my sister, I thought to share my thoughts about it in detail with you guys!

Urban Decay Deep End eyeshadow

Day 158. Turquoise look with Urban Decay eyeshadows [look]

I am a few minutes late with my 158th post, so it means I'll double post today!

Look in the turquoise tones featuring my sister B!

Products:
- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Flipside
- Urban Decay eyeshadows in Deep End and M.I.A.
- Maybelline Feather Look Volum Express mascara

I lined B.'s upper lashline with Flipside and did a little wing; to fix it and make it more intense I layered the eyepencil with Deep End. With M.I.A. I lightly traced from the wing to the lower outer corner going and one third into the lash line, to give a little depth to the look. I generously applied mascara both un the upper and lower lashes!

Day 157. theBalm Cabana Boy blush [swatches]

I literally cannot say anything about this product, because I got it this morning and I haven't tested it yet.
But I am so excited about it that I did some swatches to share with you guys! I promise a full review once I get the chance to test it.

theBalm Cabana Boy blush

Day 156. Urban Decay eyeshadow cheat sheet [tip]

I am a big fan of Urban Decay eyeshadows. I am the proud owner of several of their palettes and I covet more. But I find hard to keep track which eyeshadows are in which palette.

Image from Urban Decay

Since I want to buy a few more shades from UD and their palette are such a good deal (in comparison to single eyeshadow pans), I decided to compare the shades from the single pans available at UD and the ones contained in their palette.

So I am sharing the resulting table with you.
On the row, you'll find the palettes, on the column you'll find the single shades of eyeshadow. You'll notice that UD has been really careful to put in each palette only one or two eyeshadows from other palette.

As a result, I own 2 Foxy shades, 2 Half Baked shadows, and 2 Blackouts; I also know now that I own half of the new Dangerous palette thanks to me having the 15th Anniversary palette.

It's quite handy. So without further ado, here the link to the table

Urban Decay eyeshadow Cheat Sheet

Most of the single pan eyeshadow are in one or more palettes, so think carefully and check the "cheat sheet" to see if you don't own the shade you want already or if purchasing another palette may be cheaper.

The table (cheat sheet) is currently on Google Docs and I'll work to keep it updated and I'll try to make it easier to read.

Hope it helps!

Day 155. Wish List

I am an impulsive buyer. I tend to buy what strikes my fancy when I am browsing stores (both online and offline). At the same time, I am quite good at controlling my self (not always, but often enough that I'm just nearly broke and not completely broke). Sometimes I decide on impulse to buy products from a collection that is not out yet and I book the items I want (usually this happens with Mac, since LE items sell out quickly). Since I am in Italy and several bands are not available here, every time my friends or I visit another country, I write down a short wish list for products that are available there for them (or me) to purchase, but usually this list id for products that are easy to find (drugstore items).

But I have a few products that I yearn for but are almost completely out of reach, mostly because of their price or unattainability. These items are part of what I consider my (real) wish list, where "wish" really means "miracle".

Brushes
- Nars Yachiyo Kabuki Brush, also known as the Nars Blush Brush
- any brush from Hakuhodo
- a couple more 217 and 239 from Mac (you cannot have too many 217s or 239s)

Blush
- cream blush from Tarte
- cream blush from Illamasqua
- Watercolor blush from Daniel Sandler

Lipstick
- any from Tom Ford (Pink Adobe would be perfect though)

I would like to try also some products from Shiseido, Guerlain, La Prairie and Chanel, which are available in Italy but really are out of my price range.

Do you have a "miracle" list? which products would you like to try but just know that it would be highly improbable you'd get the chance to?

Day 154. Make Up For Ever #307/Diamond Black eyeshadow [review & swatches]

I am almost done with swatching all the MUFE eyeshadows I own and today post is ablout one of them: #307 / Diamond Black.

Make Up For Ever #307 / Diamond Black

Day 153. Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer [review]

A quick post today for a product I almost always use and barely mention: Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation Primer!

Image from Allure

Day 152. Mac Cranberry eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Another day, another Mac eyeshadow: Cranberry!

Mac Cranberry eyeshadow

Day 151. Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque [review]

Today a skin care review dedicated to a product that had me raving at my friend C., who patiently listened to me: Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Mask.

Image from DermStore.

Day 150. May empties

So these are the products I finished this month!

Day 149. Thick Eyeliner and Sleek MakeUp Curacao Blues [look]

I got to apologize because I took pictures of this look today after work instead of early in the morning so the colors are not that vibrant and the eyeliner is a little worn. But generally this post also shows that a good primer, good eyeshadows and eyeliner can last up to 10/11 hours with just a little bit of wear: I applied my eye make up this morning at 6.30am and took this picture around 5.30pm.

Products:
- Sleek MakeUp Curacao palette: Blue Hawaiian and Blue Lagoon
- Make Up For Ever Aqua Black gel liner
- Maybelline Feather Look Volum'Express mascara

Day 148. Mac Fix+ [review]

This post is about a product that is so renewed that this is going to be me raving about it more than anything else. I'm talking about the Mac Fix +!

Day 147. Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm [first impressions]

A few days ago I went to Sephora and asked for a sample of the Urban Decay BB Cream, officially called Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm. I have been using it for a couple of days now, so here's my first impressions.

Image from Sephora

Day 146. Look with Sleek MakeUp Respect palette [look]

It's been a while since I did a look post, but today's look turned out really well so I decided to post the final result!

Products:
- Sleek MakeUp Respect palette (LE) (colors used after the jump)
- Mac Paint Pot in Rubenesque
- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Whiskey
- Kiko Super Colour Mascara in #04

Day 145. Make Up For Ever #122/Metallic Copper eyeshadow [review &swatches]

My favorite MUFE eyeshadow: #122 a.k.a. Metallic Copper.

Make Up For Ever #122/Metallic Copper

Day 144. Make Up For Ever #07/White Shimmer eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Another MUFE eyeshadow review today: #07/White Shimmer!

MUFE #07/White Shimmer eyeshadow

Day 143. Mac Nylon eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Today I did one of my friends' make up and I used a MAC eyeshadow called Nylon, and this made me remember why I love this shade so much and I thought I'd share!

Mac Nylon eyeshadow

Day 142. Guerlain Terracotta Skin Healthy Glow Foundation [first impressions]

Another first impressions post today, as yesterday evening my friend G. let me swatch her new Guerlain Healthy Glow Foundation Terracotta Skin.

Guerlain Terracotta Skin Foundation

Day 141. Clinique Chubby Stick in #16 Voluptuous Violet [first impressions]

Today post is all for my friend C. who generously sacrificed her brand new Chubby Stick for me to swatch and post  on the blog.

Clinique Chubby Stick in #16

Day 140. Mac Kid eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Another Mac eyeshadow today: Kid!

Mac Kid Eyeshadow

Day 139. Mac Coppering Eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Another review of a Mac eyeshadow: Coppering!

Mac Coppering Eyeshadow

Day 138. Make Up For Ever #306 (Diamond Beige) Eye Shadow [review & swatches]

I don't have many MUFE eye shadows, but among the few I have there are two shades that I love: one is #306 (aka Diamond Beige).

Make Up For Ever #306/Diamond Beige eye shadow

Day 137. Sephora Eau Micellaire Démaquillante/Triple Action Cleansing Water [review]

Today I am reviewing a product that is fast becoming a favorite in my skin care routine: Sephora Eau Micellaire Démaquillante.

Image from Sephora

Day 136. Fekkai Coiff Controle Ironless Straightening Balm [review]

And today, for something different, I am reviewing a hair product. Ok, it's not make up per se, but still beauty related!

Day 135. Homemade/DIY Tinted Moisturizer [tip]

It's spring and I find that my usual foundation is a bit too heavy for my skin in this weather, but it's still not time for my BB Cream. Since I still have ton of my foundation, I thought I'd do a tinted moisturizer myself, so I could use it up and not buy another product.

Since a tinted moisturizer is nothing more than a hydrating cream with some pigmentation, this is what I came up with and it's working fantastically for my.

What you need:

1. a empty jar (I used a empty loose powder eyeshadow container similar to this one)

2. foundation (I used my N°7 Stay Perfect Foundation)

3. Moisturizer/Hydrating Cream (I used Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel)

optional ingredients:

4. serum (I used Dior Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum)

5. Mattifying/SPF cream (I used Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF 30) 

Basically just mix together all the ingredient within the jar. Proportions between ingredients are really up to you: I did two pumps of foundation and one of moisturizer and mattifying cream each, 2 pumps of serum (it's a 5ml sample bottle though). 

Foundation can be liquid or loose powder, it works pretty much the same. Just mix the powder really well or you'll get streaks of color on your face from unmixed pigment.

I would not suggest using a gel based moisturizer as I did, since it's a bit harder to mix with the other ingredients, but that's what I had and I made it work. 

As I was saying, proportions depends on your preference/aim: if you want a moisturizer with very light coverage, use more more moisturizer than foundation (I'd say the ration is 2:1) or do the opposite if you want coverage with a little bit of more hydrating power.

I added the serum to have an extra hydrating factor on my skin and a bit of mattifying cream with SPF to add protection and control the shine on my t-zone. You can also use something brightening if you want, such as the MAC Strobe Cream. 

What I got is a very hydrating, light tinted moisturizer that has light coverage but last quite a while on the skin. 

With the proportion of ingredients mentioned above I get enough tinted  moisturizer to last me about a week. I prefer having to mix the ingredients every week than doing a larger batch of tinted moisturizer because my storage solution (jar) is not perfect and I don't want to waste too much ingredient in case the moisturizer somewhat spoils. 

It took me a few tries to get the result I wanted, so don't give up if your first try does not have the perfect shade or coverage! Start with a small amount of products to avoid wasting them if you don't like the results! the trick is to keep trying!

Day 134. Mac Éclair + UD Baked eye pencil look [look]

Today post is dedicated to a look I am doing often as I think it's very suitable for spring and perfect to go with bold lips, which I am favoring recently.

Products:
- Mac Éclair Paint Pot
- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Baked
- Kiko Super Colour Mascara in #10

Day 133. Mac Passionate eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Today's review is all about Mac Passionate in eyeshadow incarnation!

Mac Passionate Eyeshadow

Day 132. Dior Hydra Life Eye BB Crème [updated review]

As I finally finished the samples of Dior Hydra Life Eye BB Crème I got about a month ago, I though I'd update my first impression post.

From further experience with the Dior Eye BB Crème, I learned:
- if you even just overapply it, it gets cakey, powdery, and gets into my fine lines;
- on my skin it turns color after a while: its warmth disappears and becomes grayish. This may be on interaction with my particular skin type, as it's not the first product to turn color on my skin (for example, the MUFE HD foundation oxidizes on my skin and becomes yellow), and the BB Eye Crème could be perfectly fine;
- while it's very lightweight, it also does not last as long as my usual concealer;
- my Erborian BB Cream, if used carefully around the eyes, and both my Estèe Lauder Double Wear concealer have more coverage and lasting power than the Dior Eye BB Cream.

So after careful consideration, I came to the conclusion that for me the Dior Hydra Life BB Eye Crème works as a concealer with medium coverage. It has its strong points: it has a very light formula and texture and that a little goes a very long, long way.

So if you like your concealer with a light formula and coverage, this product may be for you. If you are looking for a cream/concealer with the miracle powers of a BB Cream, then I'd say that this product is not it and you are better off spending your 45$ in a specific eye product. Just a personal opinion, though.

Do any of you have tried the Dior BB Eye Cream? does it works for you? is it worth the money?

Day 131. Mac Samoa Silk eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Today I am reviewing another Mac eyeshadow: Samoa Silk!

Mac Samoa Silk
(The shadow in the pan is so much more orangey than this picture
makes it seem! I apologize, but the lighting was collaborating) 

Day 130. Italian make up brands: Deborah Milano

Another post for my series "Italian make up brands". Today I'm introducing Deborah Milano.

Deborah Milano is actually part of a holding group (Deborah Group) which has a long history. Deborah Group actually started in 1903 in the pharmaceutical field but the brand actually became famous for skin care products. During the '60s the group expanded and developed a make up section which was later branded it under the name Deborah Milano.

Deborah Milano has both a make up line and a skin care line. Both lines have very reasonable prices and can be bought in supermarkets and perfume stores. In Milan there is also a flagship store that holds the current collections and a fantastic outlet section, where you can find very good deals.

I have to say that I don't have much knowledge about Deborah products, as I am woefully out of its target. I did try a few nail polishes and lipsticks and found them of middle-range quality.
What strikes me about Deborah products is that they have several bold colors that are not easily found elsewhere.
I know that there are several people who love Deborah products and swear by them, so give them a try if you get the chance to!
 

Day 129. Purple eye make up with Sleek MakeUp PPQ palette and MUFE Aqua Cream #17 [look]

Today I did a make up focused on the eyes that was almost too much for a day make up, even for me. But in the end I went and wore it anyway!

Products:
- Sleek MakeUp PPQ palette (Chris de Burgundy, Pink Beret, Golden Silvers, Barry White)
- Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #17
- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Zero
- Maybelline Feather Look Volum'Express Mascara

Day 128. Mac Expensive Pink eyeshadow [review & swatches]

Last product from a haul I did ages ago but somehow still a Mac product (as if I don't review enough Mac products): Mac Expensive Pink.

Mac Expensive Pink eyeshadow

Day 127. Mac Éclair Paint Pot [Review & Swatches]

Last product from my Mac mini haul: the Paint Pot in Éclair. It took me a bit to get this review up because I have been testing Éclair extensively (and loving it).

Mac Éclair Paint Pot

Day 126. Pink & Bronze look with Sleek MakeUp Original palette [look]

Today I did a look I quite enjoyed so I though I'd share!

Products:
- Sleek MakeUp Original palette (two colors)
- Kiko Super Colour Mascara in #10

Day 125. Mac Silly lipstick [review & swatches]

Third product from my mini Mac haul is a lipstick called Silly!

Mac Silly lipstick

Day 124. RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum [review & pictures]

Two days in a row dedicated to eyebrows... it must mean something!
Today I am reviewing the RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum!

If you are a regular reader you may know that I have a somewhat difficult 'relationship' with my eyebrows. So when I heard the PixiWoo sisters raving about RapidBrow I knew I had to get it.
It's not available in my country and since I was going to London, I decided I would pick it up during my trip and try it. And so I did.

I run out of product around the middle of April and I got a friend to pick another bottle for me in London. And I still don't know if I threw my money away. Keep reading to figure out why!

Day 123. The Benefit Brow Bar Experience

As the post title suggest, today I had my brows done at my local Benefit Brow bar and I thought to take some before/after pictures!

Day 122. Mac Embrace Me lipstick [review & swatches]

Second review from my mini Mac haul: Embrace Me.

Day 121. Mac Ablaze Lipstick [review & swatches]

First review for the products from my mini Mac haul: Ablaze.

Day 120. April empties

I finished quite a few products in April, mostly skin care.

Let me tell you very quickly what I think of them and if I would repurchase them.

Day 119. mini Mac Haul

Today I got a call from my Mac Store that the products I had ordered months and months ago from the Fashion Sets collection and the Baking Beauties. I had almost forgotten that I had placed a order! So during my lunch break I ran to the store and picked up my order!

Read more to see which products I got!